"I Believe in Love" Day 13 Part Three----Abandonment to Jesus

[Dawn Marie]

Excerpts from the book “I believe in love”.

By Father Jean C.J. d’Elbee

DAY 13

PART THREE

ABANDONMENT TO JESUS

THIS SIMPLE ABANDONMENT IS THE PEAK OF HOLINESS, THE PEAK OF LOVE.  WHEN ST. THERESE OF AVILA, IN THE INTERIOR CASTLES, SPEAKS OF THE SPIRITUAL MARRIAGE, THE CULMINATING POINT OF THE MYSTICAL LIFE, SHE DEPICTS IT AS A UNION OF LIKENESS IN CHARITY.  “SUCH IS THE INEFFABLE ARDOR WITH WHICH THE SOULS DESIRE THAT THE WILL OF GOD BE ACCOMPLISHED IN THEM THAT THEY ARE EQUALLY SATISFIED WITH ANYTHING WHICH PLEASES THE DIVINE SPOUSE TO COMMAND.”

 

PRACTICALLY SPEAKING, OF WHAT DOES ABANDONMENT CONSISTS?  IT CONSISTS IN SEEING THE WILL OF GOD IN ALL THAT CREATURES  AND EVENTS PRESENT TO YOU; IT IS, ACCORDING TO ST. FRANCIS DE SALES, TO BE FOUND IN A DISPOSITION TO ASK NOTHING AND TO REFUSE NOTHING.

 

OBVIOUSLY WE MUST REASON AND JUDGE.  WE MUST FORESEE, MAKE OUR PLANS, AND ACT AS IF ALL DEPENDED ON US.  I INSIST UPON THIS, BECAUSE ABANDONMENT IS NEITHER QUIETISM NOR FATALISM!

 

IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM TO RESOLVE, YOU MUST INFORM YOURSELF, GET TO KNOW WELL THE GIVEN ASPECTS OF THE PROBLEM, STUDY THEM, SEEK THE BEST SOLUTION, AND FOLLOW IT.

 

IF YOU ARE SICK, YOU MUST CALL THE DOCTOR AND FOLLOW HIS PRESCRIPTIONS.  IN ORDER THAT NO ONE SHALL HAVE ANYTHING FOR WHICH TO REPROACH YOU, YOU MUST AT LEAST BE IN COMPLETE GOODWILL.

 

WE MUST DEVOTE OURSELVES TO DOING ALL WE HAVE TO DO, WITH THE GREATEST FIDELITY, THE GREATEST GENEROSITY, NOTWITHSTANDING OF COURSE, ALL OUR WEAKNESSES, FOR WE CAN NEVER SAY, “I HAVE DONE ALL I COULD.”  WHO CAN SAY THIS BESIDES MARY?  WE ALWAYS COULD HAVE DONE MORE.  BUT FINALLY, OUR TASK IS TO HAVE WORKED WITH ALL OUR GOODWILL, IN SPITE OF OUR STATE OF MISERY, WITHOUT EVER FORGETTING BESIDES THAT JESUS IS THERE TO CARRY US.  THEN HAVING ACTED THIS WAY WITH HIM, WE MUST NEVER WORRY OVER THE RESULTS.  IF HE WILLS AN APPARENT FAILURE---I SAY APPARENT FAILURE, FOR A FAILURE WILLED BY GOD IS NOT A REAL FAILURE---ALL IS WELL.  “THANK YOU JESUS.”

 

IF HE DESTROYS MY LITTLE PLANS, I KISS HIS ADORABLE HAND.  IT IS BECAUSE HE WANTS TO REALIZE HIS OWN, WHICH ARE MORE BEAUTIFUL ANYWAY THAN THOSE WHICH I COULD HAVE MADE MYSELF.  IF HE PERMITS A VERY BEAUTIFUL SUCCESS----FROM MY VIEWPOINT, “THANK YOU JESUS AGAIN.” (OF COURSE THAT THANK YOU IS ALWAYS MUCH EASIER TO SAY!)

 

I HAVE SOMETIMES BEEN STRUCK BY THE SIGHT OF VERY GOOD PERSONS, VERY PIUS, HEROIC IN MORTIFICATION, IN AUSTERITY, AND IN TEMPERANCE, REFUSING THE TRUE HOLOCAUST, THE HOLOCAUST WHICH IS TRULY IMMOLATION: THE SACRIFICE OF THEIR OWN WILL.  ON ONE POINT OR ANOTHER THEY COMPLAIN, THEY WORRY, AND THEY ASK SOMETHING OTHER OF THE DIVINE MASTER THAN WHAT HE HAS GIVEN THEM.  IN THIS THEY ARE FLEEING FROM REAL MORTIFICATION, IN THE TRUEST SENSE OF THE WORD.

 

JESUS ALWAYS HAS HIS VICTORY WHEN HE HAS YOUR ABANDONMENT.  HE NEEDS NOTHING MORE THAN THAT TO BRING ABOUT THE DIVINE WONDERS THAT HIS HEART HAS PREPARED FOR YOU FROM ALL ETERNITY.  WHAT SPOILS EVERYTHING, WHAT PARALYZES HIM IN HIS PROVIDENTIAL ACTION ON US, ARE NOT MATERIAL DIFFICULTIES.  WHAT CAN BE A MATERIAL DIFFICULTY FOR HIM WHO CREATED HEAVEN AND EARTH?  NOT HIS ENEMIES.  HE WILL REIGN DESPITE HIS ENEMIES. WHAT MAKES THINGS DIFFICULT FOR HIM IS LACK OF FAITH AND ABANDONMENT ON THE PART OF THOSE WHO CALL THEMSELVES HIS FRIENDS WHO OUGHT TO BE HIS FAITHFUL INSTRUMENTS. 

 

WE THWART HIS PLANS BY IMPOSING OUR OWN VIEWS, OUR LITTLE PLANS TO WHICH WE HOLD SO TIGHTLY.  AND QUITE OFTEN WHY DO WE DO IT?  THROUGH FEAR OF A CROSS, FEAR OF HUMILIATION, THIRST FOR ENJOYMENT, EARTHLY AMBITION, AND, ABOVE ALL, LACK OF CONFIDENCE.

[AURA CID L F FERREIRA DE BRITTO]

THIS SIMPLE ABANDONMENT IS THE PEAK OF HOLINESS, THE PEAK OF LOVE. 

ABANDONMENT CONSISTS TO BE FOUND IN A DISPOSITION TO ASK NOTHING AND TO REFUSE NOTHING.

AND TO ALWAYS SAY "THANK YOU JESUS."

†Amen†

[bernadette szczepkowski]

Pray for us, Little Flower.

[Kate Jackson]

Help me combat my pride and not compromise the Faith. Amen.

[Flavia Talladen Schott]

Amen. 

[MARIA ESTHER DE VALLE]

Amen

[Cathleen]

+Amen+

[Michael]

Amen.

[Alley]

My Mother, my confidence!

[Gloria]

Amen

[Michael]

Amen.